This afternoon, H.H. Pope Tawadros II met with the priests of the dioceses of Asyut Governorate, which include the dioceses of Dayrout and Sanbo, El-Qusiya and Mir, Rizqet Deir Al-Muharraq, Manfalout, Asyut and Sahel Selim and Al-Badari, Abnoub and El-Fath and New Asyut, Abu Teeg, Sidfa, and El-Ghanayem. The meeting was attended by the Metropolitans and Bishops of these dioceses, as well some from others dioceses.

This gathering comes within the framework of the pastoral visit undertaken by His Holiness across the dioceses and monasteries of Asyut Governorate, which began on Tuesday. During this journey, His Holiness has already visited the Monastery of Al-Muharraq and five of the seven dioceses of Asyut.

His Holiness expressed his joy at meeting with the priests, noting that the priest, through his ministry, is the one who prepares the faithful for heaven and prepares consecrated souls for the Church in every form of consecration.

He then delivered a word on the life and service of the priest, drawing from the commandments that King David gave to his son Solomon, as recorded in the First Book of Chronicles:
“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it” (1 Chronicles 28:9–10).

His Holiness emphasized that these prophetic commandments remain eternally relevant as a living guide for every priest in his service. He then expanded upon each commandment, explaining its meaning and its practical application in priestly service:

“As for you, my son Solomon” – The priest always remains a son, no matter how senior he becomes. He is a son to his bishop in the diocese, and above all a son to God, who speaks to him continually through the Gospel. Daily solitude and prayer help the priest to hear God’s voice clearly and to live genuine sonship.

“Know the God of your father” – The priesthood is a continuation of the generations of the fathers before us. The same God who worked with them works with us today. This knowledge is not theoretical, but a personal relationship and true experience with God.

“Serve Him with a loyal heart” – Priesthood is not a title, a garment, or a position, but a sincere and undivided heart. Excessive preoccupation with projects and administration, though important, may cause a priest to lose sight of his true calling. What matters is not the opinion of people, but the judgment of heaven concerning his service and life.

“And with a willing mind” – Ministry should be carried out with renewed zeal and holy desire, so that every act of service is filled with success and blessing. Some priests may intimidate their people with harsh words, while others speak with love and embrace. His Holiness stressed the importance of the sermon during the Divine Liturgy, likening it to the seed sown by the sower.

“For the Lord searches all hearts” – God sees you at all times and in every place: at the altar, in confession, and at home with your family. Whatever is spoken in secret, God reveals openly.

“And understands all the intent of the thoughts” – God knows a person’s thoughts even before they are spoken. Thus, the priest’s mind must be pure, and his inner life faithful. He represents the Church, and his outward vestments must be matched by inward garments of purity and holiness.

“If you seek Him, He will be found by you”** – When the priest places Christ as the first and ultimate goal of his ministry, God arranges his entire life and stands beside him at every step.

“But if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” – Forsaking God is not only through denial, but also through laziness, spiritual lukewarmness, neglect of health, or negligence in service. Unfaithfulness is itself abandonment of God. The Bible says: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” His Holiness likened this to the parable of the foolish virgins who knocked at the door and were told: “I do not know you.”

“Consider now”– The present moment is a divine opportunity for every priest to correct his path and begin anew.

“For the Lord has chosen you”– The call to priesthood is not a human act but a divine ordinance. God has chosen the priest from among thousands to serve His altar, for he is beloved and chosen by Christ Himself.

“To build a house for the sanctuary” – The priest’s primary work is to build holy souls through visitation, confession, sermons, and pastoral care. The difference between a lecture and sermon is that a lecture only provides information, but a sermon calls to repentance and leads to an encounter with Christ.

“Be strong, and do it” – The priest is called to diligence and perseverance. No matter how much time has been lost, what matters is to begin again with renewed strength. The words of the priest should uplift and encourage every soul. His Holiness reminded them that the Christian spirit does not know old age, citing the words of Hegumen Bishoy Kamel: “The Christian does not know old age; he is always at the age of Christ—thirty-three years.”

At the conclusion of his talk, Pope Tawadros emphasized that the priesthood is a sacred calling and a great responsibility. Its purpose is the building of God’s house, namely the souls of His people, so that the priest remains a living witness of Christ and a light guiding his flock toward eternal life.

Following the talk, commemorative photographs were taken of the clergy of each diocese with His Holiness.

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